Wiki Subacute & chronic cholecystitis

[nabernhardt]

The patient had a lap chole performed and the path report came back as subacute and chronic cholecystitis. I am not sure whether to use the dx code for just chronic cholecystitis or the dx code for both acute and chronic cholecystitis? Any suggestions please?

I am leaning more towards chonic cholecystitis.

 

[VickieArballo]

Cholecystitis

I agree that you should only use the code for Chronic Cholecystitis. I am the coder for a General Surgery practice, and have also seen the "sub-acute" note on path reports. If it does not document acute, you cannot code acute.

Hope that helps,
Vickie

 

[nabernhardt]

yes it does thank you so much.

 

[MCook]

There is a Coding Clinic from 2008 that states a subacute diagnosis should be coded as acute.